On April 6th 1846 the “Dred Scott Case” first went to trial in St. Louis, Missouri’s Old Court House. The case involved an enslaved couple, Dred and Harriet Scott, who filed suit against their owner to gain their freedom. 

They did this based on the fact that they had once lived in “free territory” and should therefore have been emancipated based on the doctrine of “once free, always free”, previously recognized by Missouri courts.

Little did the Scott’s know, that eleven years and several court cases later, the question of their freedom would be brought before the US Supreme Court and would result in the horrendous “Dred Scott Decision”. 

That decision would serve as a major catalyst for the turbulent events leading up to the American Civil War.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, our guest is Lynne Jackson, the great, great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and the President & Founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. 

Lynne will be sharing the fascinating story of her courageous ancestors who persevered in their pursuit of freedom. 

Picture(s): Courtesy of Lynne Jackson

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man